Questions delay proposed government complex

Published: Tuesday, January 12, 2010 at 11:22 a.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, January 12, 2010 at 11:22 a.m.

HOUMA — Plans to purchase 70 acres in Gray for a government complex stalled Monday as Terrebonne Parish Council members questioned whether an appraisal on the land is accurate.

Councilman Clayton Voisin recommended the delay during the council’s Monday night Budget and Finance Committee meeting. He contends the land’s appraised value, $3.4 million, is improper because it’s partially based on a sewer system that’s yet to be built.

After the meeting, Parish President Michel Claudet said he believes the assessment is accurate but agreed to review the document again.

The property faces West Park Avenue, just north of Technology Lane and Southland International truck dealership. Another $1.4 million would be spent on road construction and land improvements.

The council voted 6-3 to separate the land purchase from $4 million in unrelated road, drainage and bridge projects included in the same budget amendment and requested a second appraisal.

Council members Teri Cavalier, Johnny Pizzolatto and Kevin Voisin voted against the delay.

Under Claudet’s proposal, the complex would house a new juvenile detention center, a new animal shelter and offices for the Department of Housing and Human Services. It also would house a public-works yard, which would supplement an existing one on Grand Caillou Road, and a cold-storage facility serving the local seafood industry, which is being paid for through economic-development grants.

Pizzolatto and Kevin Voisin said the government complex is necessary for public services, especially staging equipment and people during hurricanes.

Other council members said they are opposed because of other pressing needs, such as improving drainage.

“I’ve never said I’m against this project. What I’m against is floodwaters on the people that I represent,” said Chairwoman Arlanda Williams.

Clayton Voisin based his concerns on a Dec. 22 state Attorney General’s Office opinion. The opinion was issued in response to Councilman Billy Hebert’s concerns that Claudet didn’t solicit proposals from other landowners.

The opinion says parish government can purchase property for a public purpose without shopping around. It says land must be appraised and purchased at or below fair-market price. And it says the appraised value cannot include improvements that would be made after the government buys the land.

The property was valued at $6.1 million in September, but it’s being offered for $3.4 million. The council is being asked to set aside $4.8 million to buy the land purchase and make improvements to it.

The appraisal from Logan Babin of Houma states landowner Ronnie Shaw, through his companies North Terrebonne Investors and the Cropland Investment Group, plans to build a lagoon “to handle sewer for the subject property until parish sewer is extended to the development. Should this not be done, the appraisers reserve the right to reconsider the appraised value of the site.”

“I don’t think we have a bona fide appraisal,” Clayton Voisin said, adding that buying land given the drainage woes in the area is financially irresponsible. “Why should we be growing government when people are flooding?”

Claudet said the proposed lagoon would be built outside the 70 acres being considered.

He has said he wants to sell the land to government at the lowered price because his previous plans to develop it as an industrial subdivision changed after the nation went into a recession.

“I’ll be happy to look into it more,” Claudet said of the appraisal, adding that he doesn’t want to do anything improper.

Shaw attended Monday’s meeting but did not speak.

Staff Writer Naomi King can be reached at 857-2209 or naomi.king@houmatoday.com. Follow her on Twitter @HoumaGov.

<p>HOUMA — Plans to purchase 70 acres in Gray for a government complex stalled Monday as Terrebonne Parish Council members questioned whether an appraisal on the land is accurate.</p><p>Councilman Clayton Voisin recommended the delay during the council's Monday night Budget and Finance Committee meeting. He contends the land's appraised value, $3.4 million, is improper because it's partially based on a sewer system that's yet to be built.</p><p>After the meeting, Parish President Michel Claudet said he believes the assessment is accurate but agreed to review the document again.</p><p>The property faces West Park Avenue, just north of Technology Lane and Southland International truck dealership. Another $1.4 million would be spent on road construction and land improvements.</p><p>The council voted 6-3 to separate the land purchase from $4 million in unrelated road, drainage and bridge projects included in the same budget amendment and requested a second appraisal.</p><p>Council members Teri Cavalier, Johnny Pizzolatto and Kevin Voisin voted against the delay.</p><p>Under Claudet's proposal, the complex would house a new juvenile detention center, a new animal shelter and offices for the Department of Housing and Human Services. It also would house a public-works yard, which would supplement an existing one on Grand Caillou Road, and a cold-storage facility serving the local seafood industry, which is being paid for through economic-development grants.</p><p>Pizzolatto and Kevin Voisin said the government complex is necessary for public services, especially staging equipment and people during hurricanes.</p><p>Other council members said they are opposed because of other pressing needs, such as improving drainage.</p><p>“I've never said I'm against this project. What I'm against is floodwaters on the people that I represent,” said Chairwoman Arlanda Williams.</p><p>Clayton Voisin based his concerns on a Dec. 22 state Attorney General's Office opinion. The opinion was issued in response to Councilman Billy Hebert's concerns that Claudet didn't solicit proposals from other landowners.</p><p>The opinion says parish government can purchase property for a public purpose without shopping around. It says land must be appraised and purchased at or below fair-market price. And it says the appraised value cannot include improvements that would be made after the government buys the land.</p><p>The property was valued at $6.1 million in September, but it's being offered for $3.4 million. The council is being asked to set aside $4.8 million to buy the land purchase and make improvements to it.</p><p>The appraisal from Logan Babin of Houma states landowner Ronnie Shaw, through his companies North Terrebonne Investors and the Cropland Investment Group, plans to build a lagoon “to handle sewer for the subject property until parish sewer is extended to the development. Should this not be done, the appraisers reserve the right to reconsider the appraised value of the site.”</p><p>“I don't think we have a bona fide appraisal,” Clayton Voisin said, adding that buying land given the drainage woes in the area is financially irresponsible. “Why should we be growing government when people are flooding?”</p><p>Claudet said the proposed lagoon would be built outside the 70 acres being considered.</p><p>He has said he wants to sell the land to government at the lowered price because his previous plans to develop it as an industrial subdivision changed after the nation went into a recession.</p><p>“I'll be happy to look into it more,” Claudet said of the appraisal, adding that he doesn't want to do anything improper.</p><p>Shaw attended Monday's meeting but did not speak.</p><p>Staff Writer Naomi King can be reached at 857-2209 or naomi.king@houmatoday.com. Follow her on Twitter @HoumaGov.</p>